Do's & Don'ts: Color

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Colors and Their Common Associations

Just as there are individual color preferences, there also are strong associations with each of the basic colors that are shared by almost everyone.

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kitchen and dining blend together

By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann
Scripps Howard News Service

As soon as we're old enough to know our colors, we start to have favorites. Ask any 4-year-old what color they like and they'll tell you in a nanosecond. And just as there are individual color preferences, there also are strong associations with each of the basic colors that are shared by almost everyone.

Red, for example, is viewed as an exciting, dramatic and rich color. Think of the associations with the words "red carpet treatment." Red also is passionate; think of "The Lady in Red." And it stimulates the appetite; think of your favorite Italian restaurant.

The darker shades of red such as burgundy and maroon have a rich and stately feeling about them; think of the Victorian era. A front door painted burgundy is dramatic and inviting.

Here are some of the other colors and their associations:

kitchen and dining blend together

  • Orange gives off a cheerful aura. It is bold and exciting, friendly and informal. The dark, muted version if orange is rust. Rust colors in the living room or family room are inviting and give a feeling of casualness.

kitchen and dining blend together

  • Yellow is the most visible color. That's why you see so many street signs in yellow. Pastel yellows are happy without being overpowering and make for a nice, cheerful backdrop when the room's walls are painted in this hue. Gold tones create an atmosphere of richness or can be construed as antique such as in Colonial days where every room had a touch of gold.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • Blue is America's favorite color. It has a universal appeal because it reminds us of blue skies and deep blue oceans. There's a feeling of serenity and openness with blue. There is also a feeling of power with blue; think of a navy suit on an executive. Blue works well in bedrooms and on the exterior of a house and comes across crisp and clean if trimmed with white.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • Green is nature's favorite color. Green is very soothing to many people, perhaps because of its association with nature. Hunter green is associated with country life. Jade greens remind us of jewels and precious stones. Green works well in a dining room and can actually be used in any room in the house. It is easy on the eyes.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • Violet reminds us of royalty and wealth. Purple and violets are luxurious colors. Many young females are attracted to this color and love to have their bedrooms decorated in a violet motif. Too much purple can be overwhelming, but accents of this color do much to punch up a room.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • Brown also is a color associated with nature. It is relaxing and easy to live with. Red-browns are more formal and work well in great rooms or living rooms. The lighter hues such as tan and beige work well with most color schemes to bring about a base that unifies.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • White symbolizes freshness, purity and cleanliness. It happens to be a favorite color for walls. Off white and tinted white walls afford a great canvas for any other color combination motif.

    • kitchen and dining blend together

  • Black is authoritative. It conveys sophistication. It provides a neutral counterpoint to any other color you might choose to couple it with. Too much black can be depressing. But when blended with other colors, it makes for a dramatic statement in any room.

    • kitchen and dining blend togetherDesigner Erinn Valencich creates an eclectic yet sophisticated dining room by combining yellow and gray.

  • Gray is elegant. Since it is a neutral, it also blends well with other colors. Grey and blue give a clean, no-fuss look. Grey trimmed with white is classy for both interior and exterior paint.

    (Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a Naples, Fla., interior designer, is the author of Mystery of Color, available in the HGTV store.)

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